OCP returns to US market with 54,000-Ton Moroccan fertilizer shipment

MOROCCO – OCP has returned to the US fertilizer market with a 54,000-ton shipment of Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) from Morocco, marking the resumption of a supply route that remained largely closed for more than five years.

The fertilizer arrived at the Port of New Orleans as US farmers prepare for the fall application season. OCP North America, a subsidiary of Morocco’s OCP Group, said the shipment will add to available phosphate fertilizer supplies as the US market faces a smaller pool of suppliers.

The return follows a June 29 decision by the US administration to provide temporary relief from countervailing duties on Moroccan phosphate fertilizer. The measure allows OCP to resume shipments while giving US farmers another source of phosphate fertilizer.

US President Donald Trump cited concerns about fertilizer supply disruptions and limited domestic production when announcing the measure. “Persistent threats to the global fertilizer supply chain … require the United States to procure phosphate fertilizer from diversified foreign sources,” Trump said in the proclamation.

The US administration expects farmers to use more than half of their annual phosphate fertilizer supply between fall and early spring. OCP said the latest shipment will help meet demand during this key period, when farmers make decisions about fertilizer use.

The shipment also strengthens the trade link between Morocco’s phosphate industry and US agriculture. The US administration identified Morocco as a reliable source, saying Moroccan producers could supply the country “without disruption at this time.” Trump also said imports from Morocco were “imperative” to reduce risks to US agricultural production and support food supply.

OCP said it worked with the US Department of Commerce and other authorities after the June 29 announcement to clarify the rules for shipments. With the guidance now in place, the company can continue deliveries during the temporary duty relief.

“This shipment reflects our commitment to supply the U.S. market,” said Kevin Kimm, CEO of OCP North America. “The temporary relief has enabled Moroccan phosphate fertilizer to return to the U.S. market. We are now focused on helping supplement available supply and ensuring American farmers have access to the fertilizer they need, when they need it.”

OCP said US phosphate mining has fallen by more than 50% since 1995, leaving farmers with fewer domestic suppliers. TSP supplies phosphorus separately from other major nutrients, allowing farmers to match fertilizer use with crop and soil needs.

The current duty relief remains temporary. OCP said greater long-term certainty would support investment in its US operations and help maintain more stable fertilizer supplies.

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